St Clement's Church is a Grade I listed building in West Thurrock, Essex, England. It is the church for one of the traditional (Church of England) parishes in Thurrock. The building was featured in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Construction

A church has occupied the site in West Thurrock since pre-conquest days. In the early twelfth century the church existed with a circular tower serving as the nave. In the early thirteenth century the building was widened with north and south aisles built on either side of the rectangular chancel and by the late thirteenth century the building had been extended with a new chancel; the existing chancel became the nave, and north and south chapels were added. The chancel's eastern wall was later demolished and moved to its present position.

By the late fifteenth century the north and south walls of the chancel were removed and replaced with arcades, and the circular nave was brought down and replaced with a large tower. In 1628 the east wall of the chancel was reconstructed. Repairs were made to the tower and south aisle in 1640 and 1711 respectively. Early in the nineteenth century the south chapel was rebuilt and shortened. In 1906, major repairs were undertaken, including a new roof on the chancels and aisles; four years later the east wall of the chancel was reconstructed. Repairs were also made in 1935 as iron ties were fitted to strengthen the walls, which had become damaged by subsidence. In 1940 Procter & Gamble began production at a new plant neighbouring the church and would later hold the historic building's future in its hands. In 1950 the church's flat roofs had to be repaired once more after the lead lining was stolen. Three years later more roof work was completed when the building tiles were replaced. The tower and north chapel were also repaired at this time.

Recent history

In 1960 the church was given a Grade I listed building status. However, in 1977 regular services had to be stopped due to cold and damp conditions during the winter. Shortly afterwards the church was used for a scheme for young unemployed people, called the Ark project, and the interior was gutted, but the project failed after a few years and the building fell into decay and was vandalised.

Procter & Gamble, whose factory now dominates the church's skyline, offered to take responsibility for the church and its yard in 1987 as the company celebrated its 150th anniversary. Three years later, 50 years after the factory opened, the church's restoration was complete.

Brasses

The church has two early memorial brasses to members of the Heies family - http://www.thurrock-community.org.uk/historysoc/wthurroc2.htm.

Publications

Christopher Harrold, The Story of St. Clement's, Newcastle upon Tyne: Procter & Gamble, 1992.